New eating plan adds up to some odd combinations

I miss potato chips.

It's been more than three weeks since I've tasted that awesome saltiness on my tongue. I've even dreamt about that crunching sound effect they make when I pop them into my mouth.

Everybody has a weakness. For me, that's potato chips. I could live without fast food. I'm willing to give up my beloved pasta and bread for the next three months. But those "ruffles with ridges" are haunting me.

It's not like I ate them daily - not even weekly. But knowing I can't have them, makes me want them even more. However, I've committed myself to this "Fittest Loser Challenge." Therefore, I must give up this guilty pleasure.

My personal trainer, Joshua Steckler, owner of Push Fitness in Schaumburg, tells me that eating healthy doesn't mean that you can't enjoy food.

He makes healthy and tasty foods every day, he says. But that comes with years of experience. For me, this is completely new. I'm still trying to figure out how to make a tasty breakfast with "1 protein, 2 fats and 1 carb" - my prescribed diet.

I search my refrigerator. This morning, I ate a boiled egg (protein), a few olives (fat), a piece of cheese (fat and dairy) and half a pear (carb). Individually, I enjoy each of these foods. But when I look at them congregating on my plate, they look somewhat funny. It's like forcing people from different subcultures to hang out and party. You know that the football player is probably not going to get along with the punk rocker.

Another time, I made a beef patty for dinner. My plan included a boiled potato with it. However, that was my last meal of the day and I forgot a rule. I'm allowed one serving of potatoes per day, but not during my evening meal. Grrrr. My plan needed to be tweaked. So I threw a few raw carrots, olives and almonds on it. Again, these ingredients did not like to party together. Begrudgingly, I ate my dinner - pretending it was something else.

Though my dietary plan has its challenges, I'm discovering that I really enjoy protein shakes and smoothies - especially when I blend them using fresh fruit.

In addition, the carnivore in me is pleased to discover that I'm allowed to eat almost any type of meat. Eat it before it eats you. That's my philosophy. So I've enjoyed making dishes that include beef, pork or fish.

I've also invited chicken into my diet. Never a big fan of poultry, my palate doth protest. My goal: Find a healthy chicken recipe that doesn't make me want to gag.

Compared to the five contestants in this challenge, I feel that I'm being boring with my meals. I often find myself making food at the last minute, which leads to the odd combinations on my plate.

This week, some of the contestants have shared a number of great recipes with me. Robert Patterson made pancake batter out of bananas and eggs. Cindy Uribe and Deanna Bec made pasta out of squash. Heidi Wiltse baked protein "muffins" out of egg whites.

Kudos to them. I'm going to have to try out these recipes.

In addition, I must also pay more attention to the little details of my new diet. For example, I went out for sushi the other day, thinking I'm following my dietary plan - until my trainer pointed out that I'm not supposed to eat white rice. Brown rice would have been OK. Perhaps my subconscious chose to ignore that little detail on purpose.

Overall, I realize that I'm very inexperienced at pairing the right foods at this point. But I believe I'll get better at it in time.

Practice until you don't get it wrong. For me, that means a lot of practicing.

• Kat Zeman is a freelance journalist who's never been on a diet. She currently lives in Darien.

By the numbers

<span class="fact box text bold">Kat Zeman</span>, 40, Darien

<span class="fact box text bold">Starting weight</span>: 163

<span class="fact box text bold">Current weight</span>: 160

<span class="fact box text bold">Total weight lost:</span> 3 pounds, 1.8 percent